Electrical Problem? While driving on the highway my 1999 Ford Windstar SEL started jerking and the instrument panel went wild. The temperature gauge flipped to hot, the gas gauge flipped to empty, the RPM gauge flipped to beyond the highest range, the speedometer flipped to 85. It stopped after a minute or so. What's going on?

This is the first time this has happened on this vehicle. I had a similar problem on my 05 Accord last year and it was the battery. Thought it must be a similar problem on the van. The van, however, restarted without a problem. Still think it's related. Thanks for confirming my suspicions. It'll be raining all weekend, so won't likely get too much investigating done before next week. Any other ideas are welcome! This is the first time this has happened on this vehicle. I had a similar problem on my 05 Accord last year and it was the battery. Thought it must be a similar problem on the van. The van, however, restarted without a problem. Still think it's related. Thanks for confirming my suspicions. It'll be raining all weekend, so won't likely get too much investigating done before next week. Any other ideas are welcome!

AnonymousMar 22, 2014

i changed the instrument panel now van will not starti changed the instrument panel now van will not start

For some reason you lost power. Start at the battery, checking connections, check connections on the engine block(grounds), connections at the starter. What is the repair history on the van? Is this problem intermittent? A faulty ignition switch could cause your problem.

The "dancing gauges" problem is common on the 99 Windstar. Search google or youtube for "dancing gauges" and you will find it. The fix is to remove the instrument panel and re-solder the wire leads into the printed circuit board for the connectors which join boards. Ask a friend who is familiar with soldering electronics for help.

The last 3 answers you have been given are correct but this may also be your problem because the van totally died go to the power distribution box there will be a cable coming from the battery to the box take the nut off and clean it get it as shiny as you can and be careful this is the positive feed to the box do not let this cable get grounded out even for a second it's best that you disconnect the battery first then clean those connections then go to the power distribution box clean those then connect the box first then the battery there are a slew of problems with ford vehicles not just this vehicle it self so go slow be careful you have a lot of people here to help you through it, this one has 40 years of ford taxi fleet experience with crown Victoria's town cars van's you name it I did it good luck STEPHEN

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Related Questions:

I had a olds Alero 1999 that the speedometer stuck all the way clockwise. I took the instrument panel out and the lens cover. Don't remember if just by removing it it auto went back to zero or I just moved it slightly and it jumped back but it worked. Try it

same thing happens with my 2000 windstar, if you could take the
instrument panel out, and unscrew the the back of the instrument panel
that covers the circuit board and clean the circuit with a brush, pure
bristle brush is best 'coz they're stiff and gets all the dust that
accumulated on the circuit board. some dust particles contain conductive
material and shorts the circuit board and cause the trouble you have,
ever since i did that no more trouble. and to those who are planning of
replacing your instrument panel should do this first. it'll save you
money. always change your "outside air" filter

generally there is a fuse for the instrument cluster. also make sure the dimmer is in the right spot so you have dash lights. if that doesnt work, have the computer checked with a scan tool to see if its popping a code.

I have seen this before in my own Town & Country. It was an electrical problem. This can either be a bad battery or a problem with your alternator and voltage regulator. I would lean toward the alternator if you have enough power to start the engine but then it runs poorly and gauges and lights go crazy.